Cardiff City Women 3-0 Port Talbot Town Ladies: Phoebie Poole nets brace in resounding Bluebirds win
21/04/2021 - Cardiff City 4-1 Cascade Ladies © Mike James
Cardiff City Women strengthened their grip on third place with an impressive 3-0 win over Port Talbot Town at the Oceans Park Arena.
A first-half brace from Phoebie Poole, along with Danielle Green’s strike at the back post secured a resounding victory for the Bluebirds.
Poole, who was called up to the Wales Under-19s squad earlier in the week was a danger throughout and she took her tally up to 15 for the season.
The victory sees the Bluebirds open up a three point gap between themselves and Port Talbot Town, who, despite a spirited second-half performance, succumb to their first defeat in six games.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts, as Poole played in winger Mikayla Cook, who was beaten to the ball by Port Talbot Town shot-stopper Vicky Beddows.
Cook was again involved in another early opportunity for the Bluebirds, beating the offside trap, only to fire narrowly wide.
The hosts were nearly punished for missing early chances, as a huge opportunity fell to Port Talbot.
Winger Jess Denscombe’s cross found Rachael Ball free in the box, but the midfielder fired wide.
After chances for both sides in the early proceedings, Cardiff City found the breakthrough in the 18th minute.
The dangerous Poole rounded Beddows and slotted into an empty net with a composed finish.
Having taken the lead, the Bluebirds’ tails were up and went close to adding a second when Danielle Green broke into the box, but fired wide of the mark.
Port Talbot Town grew into the game however, as they went close to an equaliser through Lauren Amor’s free-kick, which flew narrowly over the woodwork.
Darbyshire’s side found space out on the flanks, with Cook and Green finding space on numerous occasions.
A swift attack from the Bluebirds saw them double their lead in the 41st minute, as Ffion Price’s overlapping run resulted in a pinpoint delivery for Green to tap home at the back post.
Just four minutes later, the hosts added a third, as Poole was found free in the box to slot past Beddows to put Cardiff City in a commanding position at the break.
Port Talbot came out for the second-half on the front foot and went close to reducing the deficit when Ball beat Siobhan Walsh in the box and forced a superb save from Charlotte Hastings.
The Bluebirds grew into the second period and created chances of their own, as Poole beat the offside trap for a chance to grab her hat-trick, but was denied by a great save by Beddows.
Right-back Price found space on the overlap at every opportunity and put in a great cross for Green, who couldn’t quite connect at the back post.
In a positive spell for the visitors, Bluebirds goalkeeper Hastings was called into action, pulling off two superb saves to deny Lauren Amor and Courteney Thomas respectively.
Late in the game, substitute Jasmine Simpson had a golden chance to add a fourth goal for the hosts, but was denied by a smart save from Beddows.
In the dying minutes, Port Talbot went close to getting on the scoresheet, as Thomas headed narrowly wide of the post.
Despite a competitive display from the visitors in the second period, Cardiff City held on for a clean sheet and a vital win.
Both sides are in action on Thursday with Cardiff City making a trip to Cyncoed Ladies, while Port Talbot Town face Cardiff Met.
Cardiff City: Charlotte Hastings, Ffion Price, Hannah Daley, Siobhan Walsh (C), Sophie Norman, Danielle Broadhurst (Kanisha Underdown 60’), Danielle Green (Charley Hocking 71’), Phoebie Poole (Brooke Evans 85’), Catherine Walsh, Cerys Pinchard, Mikayla Cook
Goals: Phoebie Poole 18’, 45’, Danielle Green 41’
Yellow Cards: Cerys Pinchard 77’
Port Talbot Town: Vicky Beddows, Laura-may Walkley, Terri Beddows, Chelsey Harris (C), Jesci Hare, Coryn Sexton (Nia Probert 65’), Rachael Ball, Courteney Thomas, Lauren Amor, Jess Denscombe, Maisie Miller
